Immigration legislation must be coherent

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Your editorial "Good Policy: The House Must Vote on the Senate Immigration Bill" (July 2) shocks the conscience. Undeniably, there is an absolute need for immigration reform. However, Congress' ability to enact effective complicated legislation and oversee that legislation is woefully inadequate. Examples abound.

Look no further than the Patriot Act of 2001 and re-enacted in 2011, with both Democratic and Republican support. The legislation was only 363 pages. Abuse clearly abounds. Did Congress oversee the development of the rules and regulations? No! Did Congress do any public oversight during 12 years of implementation, except for the recent past? No!

How about the Affordable Care Act -- 2,500 pages of legislation -- passed by Congress 31/2 years ago? More than 20,000 pages of rules and regulations. The ACA is so complicated the Obama administration must delay full implementation another year and a half. Where is the competent congressional oversight?

Now the Post-Gazette wants Congress to pass complicated immigration reform. Do you really believe Congress will get it right? And that 1,200 pages of legislation will work? That the concomitant plethora of rules and regulations will bring coherence and efficacy?

Perhaps Congress should tackle 30 pages of immigration legislation. Competently oversee the development of rules and regulations. Ensure the effectiveness in public hearings. Provide necessary corrective legislation.

Washington's elected and bureaucratic disarray is glowingly evident. Rep. Nancy Pelosi was prophetic when she said they had to pass the bill so people could find out what is in it. Let's hope the Post-Gazette editors will acknowledge the disarray and support a stepwise approach to complicated legislative issues that will bring needed effective coherence to immigration and naturalization issues.